Innholdsfortegnelse for May 15, 2017 i India Today

In one of the 26 cover stories that india today has done on Kashmir, we quoted Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, then in the Janata Dal, as saying, “My feeling after the 1987 election was that the Centre and Farooq (Abdullah) may have won, but they had lost Kashmir.” That was in 1989, and the story was headlined Valley of Tears. Twenty-eight years later, his daughter Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed is chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, in alliance with the BJP; but the litany of dismal failures by the Central government and the local political class continues. If you’re a politician from Jammu and Kashmir, blame the Centre. If you’re a politician from the Centre, blame the Valley. There are certain unchanging leitmotifs to the trouble in Kashmir— alienated youngsters, out-of-touch local…

#136 INDIA Rank out of 180 countries. India slipped three places in 2017 1 JOURNALIST imprisoned in India in 2017, compared with 21 in China, 23 in Egypt 50% KILLED covering politics, says CPJ*; 40% corruption; 25% crime; 5% war #176 CHINA Rank of the Dragon. Pakistan is #139, Bangladesh #146, USA #43, UK #40. Norway is #1 40 JOURNALISTS killed in India since 1992, says Committee to Prot ect Journalists—27 murdered, 13 on ‘dangerous assignment’ 22 SOCIAL media sites banned in Kashmir for 1 month. RSF was critical of such bans PULLQUOTE “India, with a population of 1.3 billion, is not a part of the UNSC. Over 1.7 billion people live in the Islamic not a healthy sign.” world but they too are not a part of the UNSC.…

Demonetisation meant that a majority of Indians were pushed to come to grips with various forms of digital financial transactions more quickly than they might have otherwise. The good news for the government is that Indians, at least those polled, trust technology and will make online payments. The comprehensive Global Survey on Internet Security and Trust collected responses from nearly 25,000 people in 24 countries, with at least 1,000 respondents per country, for three months up to March 21 this year. The results showed that people in developing countries are far more willing to shop online; 95 per cent of respondents in Indonesia, for instance, said they were likely to use mobile payments compared with just 27 per cent in Germany. 72% Indians trust the Internet, compared with 34% South…

Residents of Kodanad in the Blue Mountains refer to it reverentially as ‘White House’—the two-storied mansion on the lush 800 acre tea estate, with an electric fence and 1,400 surveillance cameras, which was a home away from home for the late chief minister, J. Jayalalithaa. In the initial years, after acquiring the property in 1992, she would come in a convoy of cars. Later, helipads helped cut travel time from Chennai to the retreat. She seldom met the villagers, but Jaya endeared herself to them by making sure state resources were used to develop public utilities in Kodanad, which is 12 km from the nearest town, Kotagiri, and 550 km from state capital Chennai. For them, with her passing, the high security estate seemed even more remote, till a security…

In Goa, the Congress is in a bit of a pickle. After the polls, they had banked entirely on former chief minister Digambar Kamat to take on Manohar Parrikar 2.0. But with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) moving against Kamat, the party is in a bind. On April 24, the ACB summoned Kamat in connection with its investigation into the Rs 35,000 crore mining scam that allegedly took place during his tenure. Earlier, on March 30, the ED had served notices to Kamat and former PWD minister Churchill Alemao (now with the NCP) in the ‘Louis Berger case’, a bribery scandal in which the duo allegedly received Rs 4 crore from a US-based firm for awarding a water supply contract in 2010 The ED notice…

FAIRVIEW, JAMMU AND KASHMIR CHIEF MINISTER Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed’s official residence at the far end of Srinagar’s Gupkar Road, with its freshly painted and varnished facades and neatly manicured lawns, has never looked better. But in stark contrast to the headier times, when the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed led his People’s Democratic Party to power in partnership with the Bharatiya Janata Party two years ago, there’s a discernible despondency to the place. It also reflects in Mehbooba’s grudging smile as she greets visitors to her home. Thirteen tumultuous months since she reluctantly agreed to succeed her father on April 4, 2016, J&K’s first and only woman chief minister has her back to the wall. This amid civil unrest that simply refuses to ebb, an increasingly obdurate central government that has…

1 C.P. JOSHI States Andaman & Nicobar, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim, Nagaland, Tripura and West Bengal Status Despite failing to deliver in all the states barring Mizoram, he still enjoys Rahul’s confidence 2 DIGVIJAYA SINGH States Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Status Has been sacked from Goa and Karnataka, may soon get deputy in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana 3 B.K. HARIPRASAD States Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha Status Congress is out of power in all three states, he has failed to curb the dissidence of ex-CM Ajit Jogi, yet he still has the job 4 GURUDAS KAMAT States Rajasthan, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu Status He has quit from all his positions but Sonia Gandhi is yet to decide 5 P.C. CHACKO States Delhi Status Will…

Perhaps due to the long winter nights, Icelanders are mad-keen on chess. With a population of only around 300,000, the country boasts 13 Grand Masters—the highest rank—and a total of 59 titled players. It’s no surprise that the annual Reykjavik Open is one of the most popular tournaments in competitive chess. But Indians are emerging as a force to be reckoned with. This year, a 16-player Indian contingent competed in the Reykjavik Open, from April 19-27. Holland’s Anish Giri finished first. But 27-year-old Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta, who won in 2016, shared second place. Three youngsters—R. Vaishali, Nihal Sarin and R.R. Praggnanandhaa (Vaishali’s younger brother)—stood out in particular. Chess ratings are based on performances against other rated players. To be awarded a title—a lifetime award, like an academic degree—a player must…

They wouldn’t be the Ska Vengers without scathing political commentary. The lines to the left, from Jail Mein, a track released in 2016, are just some of the many released over the course of two albums. “Politics and culture do not exist in separate realms,” says Taru Dalmia, the rapper who goes by the moniker of Delhi Sultanate, in a band whose members include Begum X, Stefan Kaye, Nikhil Vasudevan, Tony Guinard, Chaz Bhalla and Diggy Dang. “We’re not activists—we’re musicians, or perhaps even just entertainers—but according to me, if you’re not cognisant of what is happening around you, it borders on irresponsibility.” Up next for the band is a three-month-long UK tour which willl see them perform at festivals such as Glastonbury and Boomtown. “We found that England has…

Six title wins in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship from six races, the first time anyone has done so. That’s the kind of headline-generating driving that Gaurav Gill specialises in. The 35-year-old rallyist has been driving since his teens and winning ever since. His first title win, at the age of 18, came driving for Team JK Tyre at the South India Rally—he was the youngest-ever winner. But racing on dirt is where Gill truly shines. Having proved himself with a championship win in national rallying, Gill made the jump to the APRC in 2007, earning his first top-of-podium the following year at the Rally of Indonesia. For 2017, Gill will continue on with Team MRF, driving a Skoda Fabia R5 rally-spec car. The championship kicks offwith the Rally of…

Q: Some folks criticised your attempt at writing in a woman’s voice in One Indian Girl. Did anything hit home? A: Thousands of girls have written to me, asking how I got into an Indian girl’s mind so well. Even my wife was surprised. As far as criticism is concerned, it will always be there, and some of it is valid. I accept that. Q: What does it mean to be a feminist man? Do you consider yourself one? A: I think a feminist is simply someone who doesn’t have a gender bias when it comes to their views about a person’s abilities, rights or what kind of person they should be. I think I am mostly there. Q: Leaving political parties aside, are you a liberal or a conservative?…

SHINE ON GOLD HYDRATING FACIAL This is quite literally a gilded treat in the opulent setup at The Ritz- Carlton spa. Tastefully done, the therapy rooms are an ocean of calm and you’ll forget you are on the bustling Residency Road in no time. The facial treat- ments are done using Hungarian Omorovicza products that are delicately scented and uplifting. Beginning with two applica- tions of cleansing and exfoliating Hungarian Moor Mud, the gentle therapy will leave you with promising results. This is followed by the use of derma globes that are known to reduce wrinkles, soothe and tighten skin. Using a temperature control mechanism, they are also beneficial for inflamed sinuses. A fragrant rose gold mask application treats damaged skin, strengthening and toning it to bring out the much-needed…

WASS NOT MEANT TO BE Former defence minister Manohar Parri kar was in favour of scrapping the Rs 1,800 crore deal with Italian firm WASS for 98 Black Shark torpedoes. Another of Finmeccanica’s (WASS’s parent company, now called Leonardo) subsidiaries is accused of paying bribes in the now-cancelled 2010 VVIP chopper deal. Parrikar left for Goa before he could scrap the contract, stuck for four years, leaving frontline submarines without weapons. But if the navy was hoping for relief from new defence minister Arun Jaitley, it isn’t coming. A wary Jaitley reportedly asked the navy to retract the Italian deal and submit fresh proposals, including Make in India options. Doesn’t look like it will be smooth sailing for the navy. Sangh Family Ties The RSS hand in recent appointments in…

Pakistan and China characterise their relations as higher than mountains, deeper than oceans, stronger than steel, dearer than eyesight and sweeter than honey. During President Xi Jinping’s two-day visit to Pakistan in April 2015, Chinese assistance of $45.6 billion was pledged for energy and infrastructure projects, including $622 million for expansion of the Gwadar port, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) linking Xinjiang with Gwadar being the centrepiece. Recent reports from Pakistan put the planned investment at over $60 billion. The fecundity of the relationship in generating epithets and grandiloquent statements is unmatched, but the reality on the ground is a mixed bag. Economic and commercial interaction between the two countries is not a patch on the hype surrounding their relationship. Pakistan’s trade with China, its largest trading partner, has ranged…

AMERICAN GODS Based on Neil Gaiman’s popular fantasy novel, the web series follows an ex-convict and a mysterious conman who travel across America to bring together ancient gods to fight against the new ones, namely media and technology. On Amazon Prime. KHOON AALI CHITHI A bittersweet short set against the backdrop of rising insurgency in Punjab. A young boy is afraid to mimic his girlfriend’s gesture and use his blood to pen a love letter. On YouTube. MASTER OF NONE Dev (Aziz Ansari) is back in the Big Apple, with parents (Shoukath Anzari as Dad) and friends (Arnold as #BFF) along for the ride. There are more dates, a new career and lover, and laughs galore. On Netflix.…

MARIA GORETTI, 46 Model and dancer turned MTV VJ with shows like Hip Shakers and Chillout in the ’90s Married to actor Arshad Warsi, of Munnabhai fame Has an older son named Zeke and a younger daughter named Zene Zoe Began her innings in the world of food with shows like Do It Sweet on NDTV Good Times and I Love Cooking on Living Foodz. Most recently, she published a cookery book, From My Kitchen To Yours: Food, Love and Other Ingredients, which won the National Award of the Gourmand Awards Jury, and has also been nominated for the 2017 Gourmand International Awards MINI MATHUR, 41 Model and actress turned MTV VJ with shows like Big Picture and MTV 123 in the ’90s Married to director Kabir Khan, of Bajrangi…

GEAR UP 1 MAY 13 Here's your chance to run for fitness with Milind Soman at the Cult.fit 10k and 5k Run. Registration fee will be exempted on a three, six and 12 month CULT membership, and there are prizes too for both men and women. At Kanteerava Stadium Price Rs 700 onwards Time 6.30 a.m. 2 HERITAGE WALK MAY 13 Join Bangalore Running and Walking Tours as they take a walk back in time exploring the rich history hidden in hedges and araucarias of the lush garden of Cubbon Park. Get to know the significance of the magnificent British era buildings in its precincts. The walk wraps up with a splendid South Indian breakfast. At Queen Statue Of Cubbon Park, Central Bangalore Price Rs 600 onwards Time 7.30 a.m.…

Sensible economics and good politics do not always go hand in hand. As an economist, Bibek Debroy was right making the suggestion that farm incomes should be taxed. Highly profitable companies and rich individuals have used the tax exemption for farm income to great advantage. In 2014-15, for example, Kaveri Seed Company showed Rs 186.6 crore as tax-exempt farm income, while Monsanto India declared tax-exempt farm income of Rs 94 crore. During demonetisation, there were apprehensions that many got away by declaring the cash they had deposited as farm income. Debroy is not the first to propose that farm incomes be taxed. Recently, two Members of Parliament raised the same issue. And chief economic advisor Arvind Subramanian has remarked that while the Centre cannot tax farm income, states can tax…

@ShougatDasgupta Kajol Cowed She should have been trolled for eating lunch at a ‘pop-up’ restaurant, a grating, outworn trend. But this being ‘new India’, Kajol was trolled for eating beef. Or at least that’s how the chef, her “very sweet friend, Ryan”, described his dish— ”beef pepper water with dry lentils and dry beef”. Kajol had an inkling that Ryan had done something very naughty because she promised to “cut his hands offafter this”. Cue the inevitable trolling and the even more inevitable apology. It was buffalo, not beef, clarified Kajol, assuring everyone that it was not her intention to hurt religious sentiments. Someone should let the US government know. Its definition of beef includes Indian buffalo meat, helping India become, alongside Brazil, the world’s leading exporter of ‘beef’. Over…

Selective preservation/ development have left Delhi a legacy inconsistent with its real history A characteristic of great cities around the world is the careful preservation of buildings that are not only stylistically representative of a time but also contribute to the public life of the place. Rome, as the eternal city, evokes its history through ancient stone monuments as much as it does through ordinary street architecture built more recently. The evolving fabric provides the citizens with consistent references to its 2,500yearold history. When an insignificant civil war construction was impeding the construction of an apartment complex in Philadelphia, the builder himself proposed a solution, carefully saving the relic within the entrance court of the new apartment block. It hardly need be said that in comparison to other old cities,…

On April 26, Congress president Sonia Gandhi appointed former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot as the general secretary incharge of Gujarat, which is going to polls at the end of the year. On the face of it, the decision seemed to defy logic as Gehlot had failed to retain his state four years ago. If the man he has replaced—Gurudas Kamat—was disgruntled over being sidelined in his home state Maharashtra, Gehlot has been finding it hard to face the prospect of a much younger Sachin Pilot leading the party in the 2018 assembly elections. And Gehlot may have headed the screening committee that chose candidates for the assembly polls in Punjab, where the Congress returned to power after a decade, but that certainly did not earn him the job. What…

UNITED STATES The Goldwater-Nichols Act, 1986, codified joint doctrine. Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staffheads theatre commands UNITED KINGDOM The Heseltine reforms (mid- 1980s) ushered in jointness, an integrated military and unified command headquarters RUSSIA Lapses in the 2008 Georgia war prompted military reforms, but the armed forces are still not integrated FRANCE The Chief of Defence Staff, a post rotated between three services, supervises theatre commands CHINA Entire military regrouped into five joint theatre commands in early 2016. A single western theatre command faces India…

Leila by Prayaag Akbar Aleph Book Company 224 pages, Rs 453 This elegant dystopian novel, about a future where mob rule has forced all India into colonies segregated by caste and creed, opens with a scream. In the scrum to enforce the anti-pollution measures of ‘Purity One’, the daughter of Hindu Leila and Muslim Riz has disappeared. The novel’s depiction of rampaging moral police offers other horrors for the liberal reader too: If this is science fiction, it veers grimly close to reality. A literary novel, its payoffis emotional. The story of Leila’s search for her daughter— for whom she endures a Maoist-or ghar wapasi-style reeducation through drugs, therapy and isolation in ominous Towers—is indeed moving. Akbar’s prose is poetic without pretense. In service of the story, there’s no self-aware…

Despite the shocks of a global recession and the handbrake turn of demonetisation, the Indian car industry is doing well. The small car industry that is. As in really, really, tiny cars… At Welby industries in Toy City NOIDA, the shop floor rings and whirs as an assembly line of workers assembles a wide range of diminutive models, most of which will make their way to export markets. It’s not just cars of course— there are plenty of other vehicles in production, from motorcycles and scooters to steam trains and ships. Apart from the ‘pop pop’ boats, which are arguably propelled by ‘internal combustion,’ everything else here is driven by tried and tested clockwork engines and friction wheel drives. This is a nostalgia factory after all, and Paresh Chawla, the…